We are still working through the Visa process. I started the process in April just after our wedding. We had an interview in May. As I posted earlier, we were waiting on one document...we got it, filed it and then we got a phone call from the USICS (immigration) telling us that our Visa was approved! We were pretty exited. We went to Port au Prince two days later and the US Embassy gave us a 15 page instruction packet...IN FRENCH...for what to do next. We were approved by USICS, but then handed over to the Consulate for another process.
We worked hard to comprehend the instructions and follow them closely. I got my wife an expensive medical exam by one of the embassy approved physicians in Port, I filled out many more forms and gathered more documents. I sent them to the Consulate last week via messenger and I have an appointment to see them again on August 7th - most likely to pick up a letter that will get us our personal interview with the Consulate. If that goes quickly, we might still make it back soon.
I am going to visit a local hospital this week with Kezia (an American nurse with lots of Haiti experience) to see if she thinks that we can safely deliver there. If not, and we are still in country, we will probably go to Port and wait for the baby there. There are some good quality hospitals there.
We are looking for a place to rent if the Visa does not arrive in time. We will have a good idea after August 7 if we are going to stay or go. If we stay, we will still work on the Visa process and we will visit as soon as we can.
I need to find a workshop!
If you remember, I have rented a workshop a couple of times in the past. That works pretty well, but it is not ideal. I can only work there between 8am and 5pm on Monday through Friday, it is not really mine, so I don't have a place to store all of my tools and material and it would be better if I could work from home so that I don't have to spend so much time away from my wife!
I have been working out of my front yard lately, but that has its problems also. The sun is hot and rain is wet! I have a small tarp, but that does not cover all of my work area. Also, it is not really MY house, so I have to be respectful with the mess I create and the hassle I put others through when I move my nearly finished pieces out of the rain (sometimes in the house!) Also, here I don't really have a safe spot for all of my tools...they end up in my room with everything else that I own.
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| Last week, getting ready to call it a day, cover up as much as possible. |
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| Last week, during a bit of rain. |
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| Today, rain delay...we keep getting 5 minute downpours every 45 minutes...grrrr. |
So back to the looking for a place! Our ideal plan would be to purchase a small piece of land and build exactly what we want over time. The problem is that we don't have time, so we will rent first. I found a nice place on a major road for a reasonable price. It has room for us to live and room for me to work as a carpenter and as a teacher. It also has the potential for a small business.
Forty years old!
Sunday was my birthday. My wife cooked me a great dinner of macaroni salad, plantains, fried chicken and red potato salad...all things that I love. She brought it over and shared it with the people that are visiting this week - Emory and a few friends. My wife and her cousin Maude got all dressed up for the occasion, so that meant that I would do the same! I never thought that this is what my life would be like at 40...but I am so grateful that this is what my life is like. I get to do things that I enjoy (teaching and building things) and I am surrounded by supportive people all day.
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| Maude, Me, My Wife Ruth-Cher |
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| Ruth-cher, Me and Lucy! |
Another injury?
Not nearly as bad as the picture of the bloody foot...actually kind of funny. Last night as I was putting away my tools, one of my bees stung me in the forehead. It hurt a bit at the time, I put some cream on it and pretty much forgot about it until my wife started staring at me and laughing. My forehead swelled up a bit last night, and this morning, the swelling had increased and partially closed my eye! Small price to pay though for the delicious, sweet, local honey.
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| The night of the sting |
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| The morning after! |
Pursuit of Happiness English Institute
We are open for business. We started classes a couple of weeks ago and I was nearly finished with our furniture. I built 18 five foot benches, a reception desk and three chalk boards. I am still working on three 7 foot benches, some small teacher work shelves and some cabinets for the bathroom. Thank you so much for those that donated the material for benches. I put a call out on facebook a while back for people to "sponsor" the materials for a bench and I would build them. I asked for $40 for the materials to build one bench and several of my friends answered the call. Thanks Heath, Nicci, Jeff, Patti, Cheryl and Carrie!
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| A chalkboard, bench and a fan that I mounted on the wall. |
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| Another classroom nearly full of benches! |
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| I did not let something like light switches determine where I would mount this chalk board! |
Thanks
Again, thanks for taking the time today to follow my adventure down here. If you would like to help, I would appreciate it. Most of the other Americans that I know down here are living on contributions as well. I would be grateful for a small monthly commitment to help me continue to do what I am doing down here. We are making positive changes in many lives, and I hope to be able to touch more lives through a professional school for carpentry and various seminars on electronics, electricity, plumbing, solar power, etc. You can start your monthly contribution from the link at the top right of the page, or you can contribute through Much Ministries if you follow this link...Make sure to put my name in the special instructions to seller before the final click.
Thank you
Scott
